Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul claimed that Nimisha Priya's death sentence has been revoked after extensive efforts by both Indian and Yemeni leaders.
Published Jul 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM
The Save Nimisha Priya Action Council is still awaiting a response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding its proposal to send a six-member delegation to Yemen. (Left) Talal's family at his grave.
Synopsis: The Save Nimisha Priya Action Council is racing against time and has submitted the required documents to the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate a delegation’s trip to Yemen. However, the Union government has not yet responded to the request.
Despite the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council formally submitting all required documents about the Malayali nurse on death row in Yemen to the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, 21 July, the Centre is yet to respond, sparking concerns over bureaucratic inertia in a matter of life and death.
This prolonged silence from official channels has triggered criticism, especially as social media sees a wave of celebratory ”Thank You Modi” posts attributing progress to the Centre—claims that remain largely unverified. Observers note a troubling disconnect— those who are not part of the mediation process, seemingly rushing to take credit, while essential approvals remain pending in Delhi.
On Friday, the Supreme Court said that the Action Council is free to approach the Centre for permission to send a delegation to Yemen to initiate mediation for securing Nimisha Priya’s release. The court also instructed the government to consider such a request seriously, if formally made.
From the looming uncertainty of a death sentence, the case has moved into a cautiously hopeful phase, but time is fast running out.
Priya, sentenced to death for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national, got a reprieve after the authorities in that country postponed executing her on 16 July.
The Save Nimisha Priya Action Council is still awaiting a response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding its proposal to send a six-member delegation to Yemen. The team is expected to engage in direct talks with the family of the deceased, Talal Abdo Mahdi, to seek a pardon and negotiate a blood money settlement to save Priya’s life.
According to the Council’s proposal, the delegation would comprise two representatives from the Action Council, Advocate Subhash Chandran KR, Treasurer Kunjammad Koorachundu, core committee member Sajeev Kumar, and two from the Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musliyar-led group, Dr. Hussain Saqafi and Hamid.
Senior advocates Rakend Basant and Chandran, who are representing the Council in the legal proceedings, raised the issue before the court.
Despite the urgency, there has been no official response from the MEA so far, raising concerns over delays in initiating a crucial diplomatic intervention.
BIG BREAKING NEWS. Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya from Sanaa , Yemen Prison will be released . English & Telugu . pic.twitter.com/oAbX5LABly
— Dr KA Paul (@KAPaulOfficial) July 21, 2025
While the government has not officially confirmed any new developments, a social media post by Evangelist Dr. KA Paul sparked attention on Tuesday night.
In a video message shared from Sana’a, Yemen, the Global Peace Initiative founder claimed that Priya’s death sentence has been revoked after extensive efforts by both Indian and Yemeni leaders.
Dr. Paul expressed gratitude to the Yemeni authorities for their ”powerful and prayerful” support and said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves thanks for reportedly preparing to deploy diplomats for her repatriation. He also suggested that logistical arrangements could be made via countries like Oman, Jeddah, Egypt, Iran, or Turkiye.
Despite the viral nature of the post and the public praise directed at the Prime Minister, there has been no confirmation or statement yet from either the MEA or the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council regarding Dr. Paul’s claims.
When South First contacted Advocate Chandran, he stated that there has been no official confirmation regarding Dr Paul’s X post, which claimed that Priya’s release was imminent. He noted that ever since Kanthapuram’s intervention, there has been a renewed sense of optimism, leading many individuals to come forward with similar claims.
Council Treasurer Koorachund told South First that such campaigns appear to be aimed at shielding Samuel Jerome, who is now under scrutiny from the victim’s family. According to him, it was Kanthapuram’s involvement that gave the mediation efforts a positive direction.
However, he expressed concern that the focus has now shifted, with many rushing to thank Prime Minister Modi and credit the success solely to the Union government.
Unlike earlier phases of the case, where only limited voices from the victim’s side were heard, the family of Talal is now publicly voicing serious concerns.
In a recent development, Talal’s brother, Abdul Fatah Mahdi, took to social media, posting in both Malayalam and Arabic, to level grave allegations against Samuel Jerome, the self-proclaimed mediator.
Fatah alleged that Jerome has been misleading the public and the media. According to Fatah, Jerome was never authorised to mediate on behalf of the family and instead exploited the case to solicit donations, including $40,000 allegedly misappropriated from crowdfunding campaigns.
”He never contacted us—no messages, no calls. I challenge him to show any proof to the contrary,” said Fatah. He also recounted a personal interaction with Jerome in Sana’a, where, shortly after the Yemeni president ratified Nimisha’s death sentence, Jerome allegedly congratulated him with a smile.
Hours later, media in Kerala reported a $20 million ransom demand — a figure the family claims they never discussed.
”We’ve heard about this ‘mediation’ only from Samuel’s statements to the media. We know the truth. If he continues spreading lies, we will expose it all,” Fatah warned.
Priya’s case underscores the constraints of conventional state diplomacy, especially in emotionally and legally complex situations. With formal negotiations stalled due to geopolitical and legal limitations, an alternative path emerged — one rooted in spiritual diplomacy.
Religious leader Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musliyar) stepped in, engaging Yemeni cleric Sheikh Umar bin Hafiz to initiate talks with the family of the deceased, Talal. This shift was crucial, as Islamic law grants the victim’s family the power to forgive the offender, accept blood money, or demand execution under the principle of Qisas.
In regions like Yemen, where formal institutions may be weak or inaccessible, religious mediation—such as Sulha—offers a path to resolution through dialogue, remorse, and forgiveness.
Trusted clerics, respected across borders, can operate where political actors cannot, using moral authority and religious counsel to seek clemency.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Talal’s family. But this case reveals how state institutions alone are often ill-equipped to navigate the emotional and spiritual dimensions of justice. Faith-based diplomacy has stepped in to fill that gap, not as a replacement for legal systems, but as a human bridge where law and politics reach their limit.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
